Nutrition your child receives from childhood to his years of training is essential not only for the construction of a solid body, but also to achieving optimal emotional and mental health and intellectual capacity . That is why how you feed your child is generally considered an important component of good parenting.
Recent advances in nutritional neuroscience show that specific nutrients have certain effects on the developing human brain, which influence intelligence, mood and behavior .
The brain of a human fetus grows rapidly from the 10th to 18th week of pregnancy. During this time, the fetus is developing thousands of brain cells, called neurons , each minute. In addition, these neurons begin to develop a system of interlocking connections , essentially forming a network of specialized nerve cells that may have long-term effects on child development . Therefore, it is important for the mother to eat nutritious foods during this time.
This process of rapid growth and brain development continues for about 2 years after birth. Just like a car needs fuel , good nutrition during this important stage of development is essential . In fact , malnutrition, or shortages of essential nutrients during this period can have devastating effects on the nervous system and neurological development and physical growth .
Although the total number of neurons does not greatly increase beyond the age of two years, the number of connections that take place between them continues to grow considerably over time. When a baby is born , each neuron in the cerebral cortex - the outermost layer of the brain - can connect with about 2,500 other neurons. When the child reaches the age of two or three, that number has increased to 15,000.
Connections formed in the brain of a child are critical to memory, cognition and learning. These connections are conduits along which the electrical impulses that travel up our thoughts . During the years of the most important learning , children are literally wiring the ways their brains work every minute.
For example , very young children develop language skills again and again words , they literally drive over the images they see in the world around them with the sounds they make . Every thought of a young child is represented by a " ripple " of activity through the network of neurons in the brain. Thoughts and repeated actions , whether related to speech or movement , enhance and strengthen neurological pathways . In addition, as the child develops more advanced skills such as crawling and walking , connections childhood that are no longer needed weaken considerably. Unlike other organs in the body , the brain is constantly renewed and restructured.
Connections that form in the brain, called dendrites, are very important for the physical , mental and emotional development of the child. Where it meets another dendrites are similar gaps in a spark plug . As dendrites fill these gaps, synapses are created. In other words , as dendrites "spark" through these gaps synapses, messages are sent from one neuron to another . How these synapses traffic information of a process called neurotransmission - in the brain is crucial for the proper functioning of the body and the development of intelligence.
Parts of the brain that send and receive messages consist of essential fatty acids such as those found in fish and seeds, phospholipids present in eggs and offal , and amino acids, which are the raw material of protein . The message itself , known as a neurotransmitter , in most cases is composed of amino acids. Different amino acids are neurotransmitters . For example , serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps a child feel happy, is made from tryptophan . The adrenaline and dopamine, which keep children motivated , are made from phenylalanine. However, turning in an amino acid neurotransmitter is not a simple task. Enzymes in the brain , which depend on vitamins, minerals and amino acids specific function to accomplish this task . These vitamins and minerals also control the regular fuel supply blood sugar or glucose - which feeds each neuron . From all this you can see how the food your children eat does more than build their body. It also helps to develop their brain , neurons themselves to the synapses that transmit information throughout the body and mind. Thus , diet plays a key role in determining how your children think and feel. Although the basic structure of your child's brain is determined by genetics, nutrition they receive and what they learn to help develop this structure , and ultimately , their intelligence and ability to learn. It also affects how they fit , and if they have a happy and fulfilling life. While you can not change the genes , you can control the nutrition and learning environment for your child. For this reason, one of your main tasks as a parent is to ensure that your child receives optimal nutrition and a stimulating environment that promotes their learning capacity. In the development of your child's brain , optimal nutrition is all about ensuring that your child receives adequate amounts of five essential food while avoiding others.
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